The Golden Compass

There's been a ton of controversy about this, the archbishop of my state denounced it on the news.

I went to see it a few hours ago, and I don't see where the anti-religion comes from. Yes, it talks about the "evil" of the church, but it's in a alternate universe where there's familiars called "demons" by the church, but are like your conscience and soul. They change while you change.

In my opinion, this is mine, I haven't read the books yet. I think it's been once again blown out of proportion with the censors of the church declaring it was evil. Despite the fact the same people allow kids to see one of the goriest movies of all time to show their god's "passion." *Passion of the Christ, heard about it in the news and my dad tried to make me go*

It is just a harmless kids movie where most of it it's not even focused mainly on the church, yes it has underlying themes, but it's about morals and someone using their wits and courage to find her friends.

Thoughts anyone?

 

in the third book; baby lambs rise up and eat the land and all the trees D:

 

No spoilers, though I doubt it's true. And note, I'm an admin... I can give out warnings if I see comments like that, Unsaintly.

 

This is a discussion about the issue, not about the ending the books, and besides that's spoilers for those who haven't seen it. >_>

 

dude i was giving my reason for why it was "evil" :| jeeze make up your mind whether you want answers or not

 

Look, if you want to "Intelligently" discuss the movie, go ahead. You already earned a warning, if you want to continue, the ban button is nearby.

 

IMO I see no issue with it, afterall The Lion The Witch and The Wardrobe also has very strong religious links but it was supported.

I have read the books and I enjoyed them a lot, for sure I can see why the Church would claim controversy, but I don't believe them to be "evil" books.

These are the sort of books/films that children need to help stimulate their imagination instead of all the crap that is currently out there.


I think that the Church have really kicked themselves with this. Afterall controversy sells.​

 

I agree with this :/

Ive read the first book, though it was a long time ago, I dont remember it being that much of a religion book. I mean seriously, I havent read the other two, but it was a good book, and I think it will be a good movie.

My friends mom wont actually go let her see it, and so my mom is all "Dont talk her about it, she cant see it!"
Me: Why...>_>
Mom: Something about Killing god.....

And I will admit to the fact that the author was a die hard atheist. But that shouldnt change why someone should read it. *shrugs*

 

It's up to the parents to decide what to teach the kids from it. They could say: "People should burn in hell for letting them see this movie." Or teaching them the morals and values and courage of standing for your own belief and your friends.

It's not the movie, it's what you get from it. Yes, so kids might question the beliefs, but in some points it could be something that parents could teach their kids about, not just say: "It's the devil!!!" I think that actually does more harm than good because kids won't grow up to learn or think anything else.

In some ways, it actually does lead back to the movie.

 

Well IMO sheltering a child does more harm, yes children should be children but they need to be able to make their own minds up and form their own beliefs, banning them from going to see a film is stupid IMO.

Many of the kids who go to see it probably wouldn't pick up on the underlying themes if it wasn't shoved onto them like this. ​

 

iff you dont mind i would like to take another try at this;

the reason it is considered evil is because the author was aethiest and, he wrote a book that was anti-christian. and so, since a lot of the wolrd is christianity a lot of them thought that it was evil. so of course alost every single through and through christian would think tat it was evil and that they do not want they're children to be mislead from their religion

 

Much better, thank you... *to Unsaintly* It's not just posting what happens to spoil it for everyone else, it's posting your thoughts and beliefs. More than just a sentence.

As for what you said, would it make the person more sheltered to not see it? Saying what a kid can and cannot see just because of beliefs won't allow them to ever wonder what is out there, won't allow them to think that they can't have their own thoughts and morals not throughly supported by the church.

I have a god mother who's a blue-blooded Catholic and she's seen all the Harry Potter movies. Does that make her wrong and less of a Catholic? No, my dad has heard about it, even though I haven't brought him to a movie since he started praying in the second one, he even compares it to Christianity.

And yet both are censored by the church. There are cults out there like the one portrayed in the movie. And no, I'm not targeting any religion, I'm just point that out. Does that make it worse that they did pick a popular religion?

 

I hear the movie is a watered down version of the book , so lets read the book and see wat that says.....(thats all I hav to say for now)

 

Alright, I can't really say much on this debate, since I have not read or seen The Golden Compass. It's never really caught my interest until now.


I have heard though that most people take it as being..."Anti-Christian"? I'm not too sure about this, but that's what the web says. (I know, it's pretty stupid to place your bets on what the internet says.) But I read at least half of the book before my attention span reached its limit. Never did I find a place in the book where it seemed anti-church in any way.


I'll end this post here, since I don't want to make anything sound wrong by my lack of knowledge here. I might see it anyway, since them apparently..."killing God" doesn't offend me in any way whatsoever.

 

i myself being a christian, will probably see it anyways, even though they "kill god" its just a movie, so IMO it shouldnt be that big of a dela. just because one man doesnt belive in God, doesnt mean it has to affect what i belive. i relaly dont get offended y these sort of things, and i respect other peoples beleif's, because everybbody has a right to choose what they want to believe.

 

It's just the usual fuss regarding a film's mass release and potential popularity and it's possible anti-Christian under-tones. Except in this case Pullman is a known promoter of Atheism. Having already written a number of children's books with themes that discuss Atheism the Church is attributing this movie's production with seeding Atheism.

This is just another crazy allegation on the Church's part. For one, the movie and most of Pullman's fantasy writings are fantasy first, and you can construe hidden agendas from anything if you mutilate them enough with inquiry. As for hidden meanings regarding the Church, he's an Atheist to begin with-- name a single writer who has not and does not combine elements of their world view, their perceptions, or their very lives into whatever they write. Unfortunately that's just the way it is.

 

I never even realized there were books for it.

But I do know that the Church will make itself vocal about the movies that are out at a given time whether the Church is portrayed in it or not. They praised The Lord of the Rings trilogy for it's message of good vs. evil and even went so far as to say that Frodo was a portrayal of Jesus.

But from what I have seen of the trailers of the movie, I've seen nothing that would upset the Church about it. Aside from the 'familiars' which is to represent your soul....or from what I've read.

The human brain thinks what it wants no matter what message a movie/book/game presents since we all think different.

Off-note:
I'm disappointed I haven't gotten a chance to see it yet. End of semester and all that.

 

So basically they are saying that any Non-Christian movies should go die In a hole?

....

*Cough* Well, I agree, It Is just a kids movie, unfortunately I haven't seen or read the books or movie so I wouldn't know much. Although, If It does talk about 'killing God' It might Inflict on the child.
But like I said before, Its just a movie and people like It, so what are they going to do about It?

Also, there are MUCH worse books then The Golden Compass, so why don't they check those out Instead of Inflicting It all on one?

 

Maybe its cause this is a kids book/movie.

Anyway, I've read the books (big fan of them), and yes they are anti-christian. I'm also a devout Catholic, yet still I don't see why the church is making suck a big fuss of it. I mean, the books are clearly marked as FICTION, so no one should believe in this stuff. These are books made for enjoyment, not controversy.

The movie is also watered-down and such, so the Church shouldn't have any worries.

 

I've read that there is also some cotreversy over whether The Golden Compass should even be considered a children's book/movie because of it's supposed "anti-Christian" messages. I am Catholic & I have read all three books & can't wait to see the movie. I agree that the books are clearly marked as fiction & shouldn't be treated like it's the anti-Bible or something. There really are much worse books than that out there.

On another note, people should be able to freely form their own opinions & beliefs without outside forces, in this case the Church, pressuring them and trying to influence them. If parents don't want their children to see this movie or even read the books because it its supposedly "anti-Christian", then that is their opinion and shouldn't force it upon their children. If they do that then how will the children ever form their own opinions about anything? They'll just take up their parents' opinions on things because it was forced on them & they don't believe any differently.